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New Magnolia Soulangeana

andymroberts2222OjiKBXf7andymroberts2222OjiKBXf7 Posts: 3
in Problem solving
Hi, I've recently planted a new tree and not sure how to get it off to the best start. It's leaning quite heavily although I planted it at an angle and it has several prominent secondary branches. Do I trim it back and stake the dominant branch or let it sort itself out? Thanks

Posts

  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,090
    Is it going to spend a long time in a pot or be planted out?  If it's staying any length of time I'd give it a deeper pot or plant it lower so you have at least an inch/3cms clearance at the top for easier watering.   

    I hope you've used ericaceous loam based compost and have either soft tap water or rain water on hand as they won't like any calcium.   If not, buy some liquid sequestered iron feed for ericaceous plants.

    I think, as it's growing against a fence which means no direct light on one side that it will even itself out as new growth will grow towards the light.  Its eventual height and spread are 8m each way.

    https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/popular/magnolia/growing-guide 
    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
    Plato
  • andymroberts2222OjiKBXf7andymroberts2222OjiKBXf7 Posts: 3
    Obelixx said:
    Is it going to spend a long time in a pot or be planted out?  If it's staying any length of time I'd give it a deeper pot or plant it lower so you have at least an inch/3cms clearance at the top for easier watering.   

    I hope you've used ericaceous loam based compost and have either soft tap water or rain water on hand as they won't like any calcium.   If not, buy some liquid sequestered iron feed for ericaceous plants.

    I think, as it's growing against a fence which means no direct light on one side that it will even itself out as new growth will grow towards the light.  Its eventual height and spread are 8m each way.

    https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/popular/magnolia/growing-guide 
    Thanks! The soil is good and in Oldham we have both soft tap water and almost unlimited rain.

    Re: planting I'm going to keep it in a container until it overwhelms my garden, hopefully a few decades. Watering seems fine, do you mean there should be more soil coverage around the root?

    Lastly all the sun is coming from the direction I want it to go, although there's often wind the other way. I'm happy to play the long game if that will work.

    Appreciate the advice 
  • amancalledgeorgeamancalledgeorge Posts: 2,736
    You'd be lucky to get five years in that pot, let alone decades. 
    To Plant a Garden is to Believe in Tomorrow
  • andymroberts2222OjiKBXf7andymroberts2222OjiKBXf7 Posts: 3
    amancalledgeorge said:
    You'd be lucky to get five years in that pot, let alone decades. 
    I was prepared to repot before decades but hoped to get a few years, thanks
  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,090
    I mean that, in order to water more easily and thoroughly, you need at least an inch between the top of the planting medium/soil/compost and the rim of the pot so that when you water it can soak in and not just slide off the top and down the sides.

    In a pot, it is entirely dependent on you for water and nutrients because commercial composts only have food for about 90 days - not enough to sustain a permanent plant - and will not get enough moisture from just rainfall, even in Lancashire.
    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
    Plato
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